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Alexandar Antonov The Time is Money - the Ottoman
Post Service
in the end of the 17th-18th Centuries
Summary
This research contains some problems connected with
the establishment of the route stations - mensils in the
end of the 17th-18th centuries. On the base
of the information from the mensil defters the model of the
system that functioned until the reform in 1696-1697 could be clearly
defined. The route stations in the Ottoman Empire are administrated
from the Mevkufat kalemi and the chancellery called Menzil
halifesi, where the number of the horses needed and the maintenance
are determined. The stations themselves are supported by the tax
called avariz, which is paid from a definite number of households
plus the special support of the government called Imdad.
The long wartime and the usage of the horses for private ends lead
to a crisis in the Ottoman courier service. This crisis initiates
the reform that takes place in the end of the 17th century.
A new fare of 10 akche per hour riding is promoted and that
is a new step against the corruption of the system.
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